Section 247

Subject to sections 242, 244 and 245 any person who is dissatisfied with any judgment, sentence or order pronounced by any District Court or Magistrate’s Court in a criminal case or matter to which he is a party may prefer an appeal to the High Court against that judgment, sentence or order in respect of any error in law or in fact or, in an appeal against sentence, on the ground that the sentence imposed is manifestly excessive or inadequate by lodging, within 10 days from the time of the judgment, sentence or order being passed or made, with the Registrar of the Subordinate Courts at the court house at which the trial was held, a notice of appeal in triplicate addressed to the High Court.

Every notice of appeal shall contain an address at which any notices or documents connected with the appeal may be served upon the appellant or upon his advocate.

When a notice of appeal has been lodged the court appealed from shall make a signed copy of the grounds of decision in the case and cause it to be served upon the appellant or his advocate by leaving it at the address mentioned in the notice of appeal, or by posting it by registered post addressed to the appellant at that address.

Within 10 days after the copy of the grounds of decision has been served as provided in subsection (3), the appellant or his advocate shall lodge with the Registrar of the Subordinate Courts at the court house at which the trial was held a petition of appeal in triplicate addressed to the High Court.[Form 42.]

Every petition of appeal shall state shortly the substance of the judgment appealed against and shall contain definite particulars of the points of law or of fact, if any, in regard to which the court appealed from is alleged to have erred.

The District Court or Magistrate’s Court may, in its discretion, require the appellant to give security for the costs of appeal in such sum not exceeding $75 as it considers reasonable.

If a petition of appeal is not lodged within the time prescribed by this section the appeal shall be deemed to have been withdrawn and the trial court shall enforce its sentence or order if any stay of execution has been granted, but nothing herein shall be deemed to limit or restrict the powers conferred upon the High Court by section 250.

In the case of an appeal by the Public Prosecutor no fee shall be payable nor shall any security be required.[246